Archive for September, 2010

The following information was put together by the Indianapolis National Weather Service. For the complete article, or to see some graphical reports, just click here.

The U.S. Drought Monitor released on September 16 shows 25% of Indiana experiencing a moderate drought as of September 14. Moderate drought conditions exist along and south of a line from southeast Vanderburgh County to southeast Wayne County. Abnormally dry conditions persist in Indiana along and south of a line from Clinton in Vermillion County to Decatur in Adams County.

During this week several large field fires have broke out in portions of central and southern Indiana. Twenty counties have burning bans because of the very dry conditions. Local news indicates that crops yields in some areas will be reduced from those of 2009. Many areas of central and southern Indiana have not seen significant rain in more than 2 months. Some small watersheds are at or near record low flows. Some trees are nearly bare and grass has gone dormant. All of this occurs during moderate drought conditions.

Virtually no rain fell in many areas of central and southern Indiana from August 22 through September 9. The last significant rain at the Indianapolis airport occurred on July 28. During the 6 week period ending September 7 the airport has measured only 0.54 inches of rain. This is the driest 6 week period since August-September 1999. The tables below illustrate the precipitation totals and departures from normal at the seven main climate sites in central Indiana for the period July 1-September 9 and August 1-September 9, respectively:

Total precipitation for 2010 at Indianapolis through September 9 is 25.82 inches, or 3.79 inches below normal. This also marks the 38th driest year on record at Indianapolis through September 9. Below is a comparison of precipitation at Indianapolis so far this year in the top graphic with totals received in 2009 in the bottom graphic. Precipitation went above normal during the spring of 2009, remaining anywhere from five to ten inches above normal for the rest of the year. Total precipitation through September 9 last year was 36.92 inches, or a little over 11 inches more than what has currently fallen so far in 2010. The last time the Indianapolis International Airport received more than 0.50 inches of rainfall was on July 28 when 0.80 inches fell. The last time rainfall exceeded an inch was on June 22 when 1.64 inches fell.

Not a day goes by when someone asks ‘is he running?’ It is a question I have asked myself countless times and a question for which the answer I come up with seems to change constantly.

I was asked during a public speaking engagement months ago and said I did not think he would run but that I truly believe he wanted to. Then all the op-ed pieces started appearing the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere on what Republicans should do to win back the White House. Then the complimentary stories started appearing in Newsweek and elsewhere and I began to second guess myself.

I am smart enough to know all this doesn’t happen by accident. Someone is helping to coordinate this media blitz. He has carved out an interesting niche in this years crowd of possibilities. Someone who actually seems to be sincere about not wanting to run. Right now he is the only hesitant candidate in the unannounced field. He says he wants to have a voice in the discussion.

A Democratic insider who worked behind the scenes in the Evan Bayh campaign told me recently that he really is not doing all the things a presidential candidate needs to do if he or she is seriously considering a run. Yet he is hosting Republican experts who know all about how to finance and run campaigns. He told me he is just discussing the issues with them.

I asked him if those discussions could lead to him making a decision to run and he admitted it could and then for the first time he really launched into how he an others are unhappy with the course this country is on. He said he has asked four other people to run for president and they all told him no.

Now I am begining to think that he truly does not want to run for president but may be angling for a vice presidential spot. Maybe the discussions he’s been having are really not for him. Could he, for purpose of discussion, be playing a Dick Cheney role for someone else? Putting together a game plan for, say, Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi?

Six months campaigning as VP is certainly a lot more appealing then 24 months for president.

Obviously this is speculation but until he makes his final decision that is about all we can do. Now all he will say is “ask me after the legislature is over” and so we will. As Democrat Robin Winston says, we will all know his intentions if he shows up at the state fair in Iowa and at this rate we may not know until then.

Yes, we had a little rain overnight. Key words there “a little”! Today highs will hit about 80 degrees with a mix of sun and clouds. As a cold front moves through this afternoon, there’s still a chance for an isolated shower or thunderstorm. Don’t expect a soaker that will help out your lawn much.

Behind the front, we’ll run into much cooler air. Tonight, lows drop down to the low to mid 50s.

Friday and through most of the weekend we stay dry with highs around 80 degrees. On Sunday, there’s a slight chance for an isolated shower.

Get ready to track more heat next week… we could hit another 90 degree day!

Highs today will reach the mid 80s across Central Indiana. There’s a VERY slight chance for a sprinkle late in the day.

Wednesday, dry with temps in the mid 80s.

Here’s where we keep our fingers crossed! Late Wednesday night into Thursday an area of low pressure and a cold front will move through the state. This is expected to bring rain. At this point, up to a half an inch of rain looks possible. We’ll keep tracking this for you, this is the only significant rain in the forecast.

Highs today will hit the mid 70s with scattered showers and isolated t-storms. We’ll see the rain wind down late in the day. Most spots look to pick up a quarter inch of rain, while others could pick up as much as half an inch. Severe storms are not expected, but heavy rain and wind gusts up to 40 mph are possible in some thunderstorms.

Overnight, we dry out and lows drop to the upper 50s. Patchy fog is possible early Sunday morning.